Coach Praises 26-Man Team for Cup Challenge Success
Mauricio Pochettino on World Cup Roster Selection: 'It's About the Right 26' It takes time and deep thought to pare a highly competitive list of more than 70 down to 26. Yet, that's the task that awaits for head coach Mauricio Pochettino in the upcoming months after the U. S.
Men’s National Team matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. March 28 against Belgium and March 31 against Portugal will be the final matches before Pochettino selects his roster for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, which will be announced on May 26. Numerous factors go into making such a crucial selection, and the head coach has explained over the past several camps, including the latest announced on Tuesday, that all 26 spots that comprise the World Cup roster are up for grabs.
“Football is very, very dynamic,” he said. “It can change at every single moment. ” Several familiar names part of the USMNT pool did not receive callups to March camp.
The head coach addressed striker Haji Wright, midfielder Tyler Adams and fullback Sergiño Dest who were omitted are all dealing with injuries. Midfielder Diego Luna is also coming back from a minor injury. Even though he played recently for Real Salt Lake, the coaching staff wanted to give him more time to return to form.
Even though these players will not be wearing either of the new Stars & Stripes jerseys on the pitch in March, Pochettino said their availability and selection for the World Cup is still to be determined. “What I can tell the players today [that] didn’t reach the roster is not that they are not going to have a possibility to be on the final roster,” Pochettino said. “And the players that today are on the roster, they cannot think they are going to be in there, in the final roster.